Rafale Jet features that could make it a game-changer for India

The first batch of five Rafale fighter aircraft arrived in India on Wednesday. The jets are a part of the inter-governmental agreement between India and France to supply 36 of the multi-role fighter jets to the Indian Air Force. The deal is worth Rs 59,000-crore.

The aircraft took off from the Merignac airbase in the French port city of Bordeaux on Monday. They covered a distance of nearly 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in the United Arab Emirates before arriving at Ambala airbase on Wednesday.

Rafale, made by Dassault Aviation, is a twin-jet fighter aircraft which is equipped with a wide range of weapons. Here are some of the most striking features of the Rafale jets:

– The Rafale fighter jets come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, low-band jammers, infra-red search and tracking systems, radar warning receivers and 10-hour flight data recording.

The jets can jam enemy radars and also detect targets anywhere including sea, ground and air.

– The Rafale can attain a maximum speed of Mach 1.8/750 Kt.v(2,222.6km per hour). Its advanced engine is capable of allowing the throttle to shift from combat to idle power in less than three seconds.

– The Rafale can attain a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet and is capable of travelling for 3700kms without refuelling.

– The mainstay of the weapons system of the Rafale jets are the Meteor missiles, the Scalp missile and the MICA system.

– Made by European missile maker MBDA, the Meteor is the next generation of beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile. It has been designed keeping in mind the common threats facing France, UK, Italy, Germany and Spain and aims to revolutionise air-to-air combat.

– The Meteor missiles have an air-strike range of 150 kilometres and are capable of destroying an enemy nation’s aircraft without even crossing the border.

The Meteor is powered by a unique rocket-ramjet motor that gives it far more engine power for much longer than any other missile, an expert told news agency PTI.

– The Scalp is a long-range cruise missile. It is known to have pinpoint terminal accuracy, which it achieves through an accurate seeker and target recognition system.

– The Rafale jets will also be equipped with the MICA weapon system which is integrated into IAF’s Mirage 2000 aircraft.